Filtering means for liquid containers



vPatented June 2l, 1938 y UNITED STATES anillas `rnsrrnime. Mams ron ma cou- 1 'immens "Eben w. inmensas Nuance in. Nemi, Gienview, Ill., asslgnors to Baxter laboratories.

Inc., a corporation o! Delaware Application June 1936, Serial No. 84,214

12 Claims.

This invention relates to filtering means for liquid containers and the like and is particularly' useful in connection with the injection of intravenous solutions.

An object ofthe invention is to provide means whereby intravenous solutions can be readily released from a container while introducing iiltered air into a portion of the container. Other speciiic objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. y

' The invention is illustrated, in preferred emV` bcdlments, by the accompanying drawing in which- Figure ,l is a broken side view in elevation of apparatus embodying our invention; Fig. 2 a transverse section view, the section being taken as indicated at line `2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a broken enlarged sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a broken detailed sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line l of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a side view in elevation of a. modified form of needle-tube; and Fig. s, a .view similar to Fig. 4

of a modified form of needle-supporting head.

In the illustration given, A designates a glass container equipped with a metal band A' and a bail B. The openv end of the container A is closed by a rubber plug C .having two passages C' and C2 extending therethrough. A `metal collar D secures the plug C within the neck of the container. A glass "tube I0 is received within the passage C' of plug C and has an open end reaching the remote side of the bottle.` Prior to use, the passage C' and the passage C2 are closed by a ilexible rubber seal II. When it is desired to use the container for intravenous injections etc., a portion of the rubber seal is rolled back as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 to uncover passage C. 'I'he gla'ssconnecting tube I2 is introduced into the passage C2 and the tube I3 leads away to a hypodermic needle (not shown).

Heretofore, it has been common practice to remove the rubber disk or seal Il entirely and to allow the unltered air to pass through tube lli to the upper end of. the container. The mass of unltered air in the top portion o! the container contacts the liquid surface and tends to contaminate it. In order to overcome this diiliculty, we have provided means for introducing filtered air while at the same vtime excluding unfiltered air. `We are able to accomplish the exclusion of uniiltered airby utilizing the rubber seal Il which is already present and which is essential for other purposes already described.

(ci. 12a-zic) i Our improved apparatus consists oi a glass tube IA containing cotton I5 or any other suitable iilterlng material. a iiexible tube i6, and a bent glass tube I1 equipped at its inner end with a hollow needle I8. The hollow needle is provided with a beveled end.' III to permit it to' loev inserted readily through the rubber seal Ii.

. In order to support the tube I4 and needle I8 in the desired position, as shown in Fig. l3, we employ a. split ring member 20 equipped with resilient ngers adapted, to extend about the neck oi the' bottle as showsn more clearly in Figs. 2 3. The member 20 is provided with a shank extension 2l, the other end of which is bifurcated to form spring fingers 22 engaging tube I4. A sleeve 23 engages shank 2l and is provided with a depending arm 2t having at its .end a slotted head 26, the slot being 'adapted to receive the upper portion of the glass tube in such a manner as to pressA inward on the lower flange of the needle proper, thus being independent of the type of needle used and insuring a good seal. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3,the head 25 abuts the lower flange 26 of needle I8.

In the operation of the apparatus; the filtering mechanism is preferably applied to the container A while it is in its normal position as a container4 and before it is inverted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The spring lingers 20 are caused to engage the neck of the container A while atl the same time the spring fingers 22 are caused to engage the tube M. The needle IB is passed through the rubber seal I I to the position shown in Fig. 3 and.l is then secured within the slotted head 25 of the supporting arm 24. In inserting the needle I8 through the seal II, it is easy for the operator to'iind the proper point for inserting because the partial vacuum within container A normally draws the rubber disk II slightly into the mouth of tube I0. The depression thus formed makes it extremely easy for'the operator to iind the point for piercing the disk. The air entering the partial vacuum passes through the -iilterlng material I5 to tube I6, angular tube I1 and needle I8. To permit the glass tube I2 to be inserted, a portion oi' the seal II is peeled away as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. This is done while the vessel is inits normal position as a container and before it is inverted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The liquid may then ilow out through tube I2 and iiexible tube I3 to the needle. As the liquid is removed, its volume is replaced by air which iirst passes through the filtering material l2 and the remainder of the parte .into the glass tube Il.

ses`

During the removal of the liquid, the seal Il is held by needle I8 and supporting arm 24 in tight relation with the mouth of tube I0 and thus excludes all unfiltered air. In this connection, the rubber disk which is essential for sealing the vacuum of the tube is utilized for the double function of excluding air from glass tube I0 after the vacuum is broken and while the liquid is being removed through glass tube I2.`r

The angularly formed member i1 tends to prevent entrainment of particles passing from the filtering' material l5. In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5, the tube I1a is provided with a downwardly. extending portion 21 having a closed end, thus providing a chamber for receiving entrained particles, providing also a well for receiving the fluid which normally flows from tube i0 when the vessel is inverted from its normal position as a container to the position shown in` Figs. l and 3.

In the tube I6, we prefer to insert a metal screen Ia or other suitable strainer to prevent lint from the filter tube passing into the needle and from thence into the interior of the container.

In the modified form of the head shown in Fig. 6, it will be noted that the head 2Ia is provided with a curved slot which facilitates the engagement of the needle tube as well as the release of this member following the emptying of the container.

While in the foregoing discussion, we' have described some of the parts as being made of glass, rubber etc., it will be understood that such description is merely of a preferred form and that other materials may be substituted therefor without departing from the scope of our invention.

'I'he foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and

no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as'permissible, in view of the prior art.

We claim:

l. In combination with a container having an open end closed by a plug, said plug being provided with an air inlet opening and a liquid outlet opening, a flexible seal extending over said openings, a hollow needle extending through said fiexible seal and into said air inlet opening, and an air filter controlling the flow of air into said needle. v

2. In combination with a container having an open end closed by a plug, said plug being provided with an air inlet opening and a liquid outlet opening, a flexible seal extending over said openings, a hollow needle extending through said flexible seal and into said air inlet opening, a tube connecting'with said needle, and an air filter in said tube.

3. .In combination with a container having an open end closed by a plug, said plug being provided with an air inlet opening and a liquid outlet opening, a flexible seal extending over said openings, a hollow needle extending through said flexible seal and into said air yinlet opening, a tube connecting with said needle, and an air filter in said tube, means carried by said container for supporting said needle and tube.

flexible seal and into said air inlet opening, a tube connecting with said needle, and an air filter in said tube, means carried by said container for supporting said needle and tube, said last mentioned means being releasably carried by said container. l

5. In combination with a container having an open end closed by aplug, said plug being provided with an air inlet opening and a liquid outlet opening, a flexible seal extending over said openings, a hollow needle extending through said flexible seal and into said air inlet opening, a tube connecting with said needle, and an air filter in said tube, means carried by said container for supporting said needle and tube, said means including spring fingers releasably engaging' said container.

6. In combination with a container having an open end closed by a plug, said plug being provided with an air inlet opening and a liquid outlet opening, a flexible seal extending over said openings, a hollow needle extending through said flexible seal and into said air inlet opening, a tube connecting with said needle, and an Aair filter in said tube, means carried by said container for supporting said needle and tube, said means including spring fingers engaging said container and spring fingers also engaging said tube.

needle extending through said seal into said airn inlet opening, and a spring member releasably engaging said container neck and provided with a depending arm supporting said needle.

8. In combination with a container having an open neck closed by a plug said ,plug having an air inlet opening and a liquid outlet'opening, a resilient sealing disk normally closing said openings, a filter-equipped tube, a hollow needle secured to said tube and extending lthrough said seal into said air inlet opening. releasably clamping means engaging the neck of said bottle and having means also for supporting said tube, said clamping means being provided with a depending arm for supporting said needle and maintaining it against said flexible seal.

9. Air filtering apparatus adapted for use with an intravenous-solution container said container being provided with a plug and at least an air inlet opening therethrough, comprising; a hollow needle extending intosaid opening, means providing a seal about said opening and needle, a .L

tube connecting with said needle, an enlarged filter casing connecting with said tube, filtering material in said casing, and releasable means for supporting said filter casing and said needle.

l0. Air filtering apparatus adapted for use with an intravenous-solution container said container being provided with a plug and at least an air inlet opening therethrough, comprising: a hollow needle extending into said opening, means providing a seal about said needle and opening, a tube connected to said needle and providing angularly related passages, and an air filter connecting with said tube.

11. nir filtering apparatus adapted for use with an intravenous-solution container said container being provided with a plug and at least an air inlet opening therethrough, comprising: a hollowneedle extending into said opening, means providing a seal about said needle and opening, means for supporting said needle within Y 2,121,123 said opening, a tube secured to said needle and providing angularlyA disposed passages and an entrainment trap disposed adjacent the junction of said passages, and an air filter connecting n with said tube.

12. In combination with a. container having an open neck closed by a plug, said plug having an air inlet opening and a liquid opening, a resilient seal extending over said openings. a hollow needle extending through said seal intosaid air inlet opening, and'a member releasably engaging said container neck and provided with a depending arm supporting said needle.

EBEN WQ EmxsoN. NAURICE M. Nassim 

